Hannah vs Nancy
Hannah and Nancycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #21 and Nancy #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2011, Hannah was ranked #52 and Nancy #482 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Hannah was ranked #57 and Nancy #127 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hannah was ranked #66 and Nancy #260 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Hannah was ranked #107 and Nancy #81 among girls in England and Wales.
Hannah and Nancy over time
Hannah and Nancy appear together in 4 published lists, across 125 years of shared records. Hannah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Nancy in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Hannah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Nancy in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2019, Nancy moved ahead of Hannah in England and Wales · Girls — #62 and #64 the year before became #68 and #64.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hannah and Nancy changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1976 and 2011, ending at #52 and #482.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Norway · Girls, Hannah rose about as far as Nancy fell — from #501 and #233 in 1976 to #52 and #482 in 2011.
- Longest-running competitions
Hannah and Nancy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #21 and #99.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1965–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Nancy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #5 in 2019, Nancy #99 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #21, Nancy #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hannah held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Nancy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1996, Nancy #64 in 2018.
The order changed in 2019: Nancy moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #62 and #64; by 2019 that had become #68 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hannah #107, Nancy #81.
Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1976–2011
Hannah held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Nancy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #36 in 2002, Nancy #224 in 1982.
The order changed in 1985: Hannah moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #282 and #269; by 1985 that had become #354 and #453.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Hannah #52, Nancy #482.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2004–2024
Hannah held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Nancy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 2005, Nancy #95 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hannah #57, Nancy #127.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Hannah | Nancy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'favour' or 'grace', referring to graciousness. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhænə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #21 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #99 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Hannah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Nancy does not have one recorded yet.
- Hannah and Nancy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Hannah; Nancy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Hannah
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1978–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1978–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Nancy
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #249 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #64 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls